New issue of the "Jenaer Beiträge" series published

The Johannistor - a piece of city history to browse through and discover

Anyone who walks through Jena's city center knows it: the Johannistor. The five-storey tower rises majestically on the western edge of the city and is reminiscent of times long past. But what is hidden behind its walls? And what stories can the old stones tell?

Answers to these questions can be found in the new publication "Das Johannistor in Jena", the third edition of the popular series "Jenaer Beiträge zur Denkmalpflege, Baugeschichte und Archäologie". Published by the Department of Building Regulations and Monument Protection, the booklet invites you to discover the exciting past of Jena's only surviving city gate.

For centuries, the Johannistor was the most important western entrance to the city. It protected the citizens, stood for fortitude - and became a symbol of Jena's economic strength in the Middle Ages. Today, it is not only a striking landmark, but also part of the last visible section of the medieval city fortifications.

The new publication focuses not only on the obvious, but also on hidden traces in the building: small details that provide clues to its development, use and significance. Using historical sources, the question of the age of the tower is answered for the first time - and even the oldest known depiction of the gate is presented. Particularly exciting: previously overlooked battle traces show that the building was actually used in defensive situations. The study of the building's history is supplemented by a small catalog of rifle bullet finds discovered in Jena.

With 48 pages and 54 mainly color illustrations, the booklet offers a richly illustrated journey into Jena's history - well-founded and at the same time vividly presented.

The publication is available for 8 euros from the Jena City Museum.

Neue Ausgabe der Jenaer Beiträge zur Denkmalpflege, Baugeschichte und Archäologie

© Stadt Jena